We're already in the mix... we don't have to go 12-1 OOC to get noticed... Great start for ncaat implications as well, early exposure makes it easier, opposed to having/needing long winning streaks and/or a gaudy record, to get noticed at all.... as we've seen and been in, so many years past...

With a decent OOC , we could make the T25 at some point.. that alone allows 22 wins to be your magic number instead of the 23/24 we were looking at last year...

Team sheets will now be divided into home games against teams ranked in the RPI Top 30, neutral court games against teams ranked in the RPI Top 50 and road games against teams ranked in the RPI Top 75. Previously, team sheets only took into account games against RPI Top 50 teams, regardless of location.

So we went from First 4 out to an 11 seed play in game? Typical lack of respect as usual. Oh well, I guess we just have to go out and earn it as usual.

Why are you surprised? Hogs lost a lot in MK and DH. While they are trying to find team chemistry early, they play some really tough games. They could be a better team than last season by the end of the season but have a record 3 or 4 games worse just due to the increased difficulty of the non-conf schedule and the improvement of other teams in the SEC.

I agree, and though they lost everybody, Frank is a good coach and USC wasn't a one hit wonder, imo...

This is the year the SEC could re-enter the national picture.. last years NCAA gave great exposure, a follow up year of 6-8 teams vying for a berth and another good tournament could break the lid on "does the SEC only get 2, 3 bids?.... it's a football league."..etc..

Why are you surprised? Hogs lost a lot in MK and DH. While they are trying to find team chemistry early, they play some really tough games. They could be a better team than last season by the end of the season but have a record 3 or 4 games worse just due to the increased difficulty of the non-conf schedule and the improvement of other teams in the SEC.

We have 6 seniors. That's rare and IMO the reason we will have a great season. We should also enter the season in the top 25. So yeah, a projected 11 seed play in game is a little surprising.

Dan>Moses. Khalil>Dusty. Darious>Watkins. These players fit CMA system better than the three we lost and the players returning will improve. We really didn't lose that much. That's why we should be ranked to start the season.

Dan>Moses. Khalil>Dusty. Darious>Watkins. These players fit CMA system better than the three we lost and the players returning will improve. We really didn't lose that much. That's why we should be ranked to start the season.

You registered almost a month ago, and this is your 1st post? Could this being a duplicate acct be more obvious?

But I am bored, so I'll bite. We did not really lose much, ok, if we believe that, then there is still no reason that a team that did not finish in the top 25 should start in the top 25, even if they are exactly the same team, which this one is not.

Mike's teams seem to always be searching early for the right mix of time and rotation of players, plus it has been hard for guys coming in to pick up the system right away. It took Macon and Barford until into the SEC schedule to really catch on. Yet, with many newcomers needing to fill key spots, and replace a lot of production, the team should be pre season top 25?

You registered almost a month ago, and this is your 1st post? Could this being a duplicate acct be more obvious?

But I am bored, so I'll bite. We did not really lose much, ok, if we believe that, then there is still no reason that a team that did not finish in the top 25 should start in the top 25, even if they are exactly the same team, which this one is not.

Mike's teams seem to always be searching early for the right mix of time and rotation of players, plus it has been hard for guys coming in to pick up the system right away. It took Macon and Barford until into the SEC schedule to really catch on. Yet, with many newcomers needing to fill key spots, and replace a lot of production, the team should be pre season top 25?

You registered almost a month ago, and this is your 1st post? Could this being a duplicate acct be more obvious?

But I am bored, so I'll bite. We did not really lose much, ok, if we believe that, then there is still no reason that a team that did not finish in the top 25 should start in the top 25, even if they are exactly the same team, which this one is not.

Mike's teams seem to always be searching early for the right mix of time and rotation of players, plus it has been hard for guys coming in to pick up the system right away. It took Macon and Barford until into the SEC schedule to really catch on. Yet, with many newcomers needing to fill key spots, and replace a lot of production, the team should be pre season top 25?

We have 7 of our 10 man rotation back. We are actually going to be taller and more athletic.

The JUCOs tend to make a jump from their first to second season. If they average 3 more points a game a piece, then Hannahs replacement will only need to average about 7 points per game to replace his production.

CJ Jones shot 50% from 3 last season on 24 shots. He can absolutely replace Hannahs as a 3 pt threat. Hannahs actually had a very inconsistent year shooting the 3 and we still were a good team.

When this team took off late in the season, it had become Barford's and Macon's team.

We are in some preseason polls, but in the low 20's. So it's not surprising we would be on the outside in some others.

But your argument is kind of weak when you look at this poll in it's entirety. There are some teams in there that absolutely sucked last season and others that also lost key players. This kind of poll isn't about the start of the season either. It's about where these pollsters think these teams end up as well, not where they think they will be at the start of the season either.

Some teams may return more starters, but they aren't proven to be good.

We have 7 of our 10 man rotation back. We are actually going to be taller and more athletic.

The JUCOs tend to make a jump from their first to second season. If they average 3 more points a game a piece, then Hannahs replacement will only need to average about 7 points per game to replace his production.

CJ Jones shot 50% from 3 last season on 24 shots. He can absolutely replace Hannahs as a 3 pt threat. Hannahs actually had a very inconsistent year shooting the 3 and we still were a good team.

When this team took off late in the season, it had become Barford's and Macon's team.

We are in some preseason polls, but in the low 20's. So it's not surprising we would be on the outside in some others.

But your argument is kind of weak when you look at this poll in it's entirety. There are some teams in there that absolutely sucked last season and others that also lost key players. This kind of poll isn't about the start of the season either. It's about where these pollsters think these teams end up as well, not where they think they will be at the start of the season either.

Some teams may return more starters, but they aren't proven to be good.

First, basketball polls are pretty much pointless. The only thing that matters is if your name gets called on the selection show in March. As you point out, the Hogs are in the low 20's in some polls, and just out of a few others when you look at others receiving votes. Neither makes a difference really. But for people to say this team SHOULD be a pre season top 25 team has no merit, and is based on nothing but their thought that these new guys will come in, gel right away, and be better than last years team was early. They have to be better early because the ooc schedule is much tougher.

You registered almost a month ago, and this is your 1st post? Could this being a duplicate acct be more obvious?

But I am bored, so I'll bite. We did not really lose much, ok, if we believe that, then there is still no reason that a team that did not finish in the top 25 should start in the top 25, even if they are exactly the same team, which this one is not.

Mike's teams seem to always be searching early for the right mix of time and rotation of players, plus it has been hard for guys coming in to pick up the system right away. It took Macon and Barford until into the SEC schedule to really catch on. Yet, with many newcomers needing to fill key spots, and replace a lot of production, the team should be pre season top 25?

I've known about this website for a couple of months now and I can tell I'm not gonna like you. That's all I'm going to say about that because I came to talk about basketball not an account. I feel the reason it takes some awhile to catch on to the system is because we haven't had people built for it. These freshmen are tailored made for it. They're long, athletic, and skilled. The 3 we lost weren't really any of them. Moses was kind of athletic but he wasn't as tall, long, or athletic as gafford. Dusty was kind of skilled but he didn't have much else going for him. Like a poster just said, the person replacing Hannah's won't be asked to score all that much given the improvements JB and DM hopefully make. Also, the sophomores hopefully make a decent jump. I do know preseason polls don't mean squat but that's what some posters were discussing. I'd rank us haha.

First, basketball polls are pretty much pointless. The only thing that matters is if your name gets called on the selection show in March. As you point out, the Hogs are in the low 20's in some polls, and just out of a few others when you look at others receiving votes. Neither makes a difference really. But for people to say this team SHOULD be a pre season top 25 team has no merit, and is based on nothing but their thought that these new guys will come in, gel right away, and be better than last years team was early. They have to be better early because the ooc schedule is much tougher.

I agree. If you are outside the top 15, preseason polls are pretty meaningless.

I think we have some question marks about our team that have to be answered before we are a should be ranked kind of team.

I've known about this website for a couple of months now and I can tell I'm not gonna like you. That's all I'm going to say about that because I came to talk about basketball not an account. I feel the reason it takes some awhile to catch on to the system is because we haven't had people built for it. These freshmen are tailored made for it. They're long, athletic, and skilled. The 3 we lost weren't really any of them. Moses was kind of athletic but he wasn't as tall, long, or athletic as gafford. Dusty was kind of skilled but he didn't have much else going for him. Like a poster just said, the person replacing Hannah's won't be asked to score all that much given the improvements JB and DM hopefully make. Also, the sophomores hopefully make a decent jump. I do know preseason polls don't mean squat but that's what some posters were discussing. I'd rank us haha.

you make some good points.

Hard to say if we are a top 25 team as we don't know what we truly will look like and know even less about the other prospective top 25 teams.

I liked the guys we replaced. They all brought some good things. But I think their production in terms of numbers can be replaced. The leadership they brought needs to be replaced and that won't be easy. Need some of these guys to step up and I suspect they will.

Schedule will be challenging. I like that. We need it to prepare us for Feb/March.

I've known about this website for a couple of months now and I can tell I'm not gonna like you. That's all I'm going to say about that because I came to talk about basketball not an account. I feel the reason it takes some awhile to catch on to the system is because we haven't had people built for it. These freshmen are tailored made for it. They're long, athletic, and skilled. The 3 we lost weren't really any of them. Moses was kind of athletic but he wasn't as tall, long, or athletic as gafford. Dusty was kind of skilled but he didn't have much else going for him. Like a poster just said, the person replacing Hannah's won't be asked to score all that much given the improvements JB and DM hopefully make. Also, the sophomores hopefully make a decent jump. I do know preseason polls don't mean squat but that's what some posters were discussing. I'd rank us haha.

Hahaha, I feel you man! I knew I would not like hogsanity within my first few days on Hogville as well! Do not get bullied away though, lots of good bball conversation from others on this board that will not treat you differently because of your post count. It is okay to have a bit of optimism and your own optimistic opinion based on last year with the players we are keeping and the recruits we have coming in. Hell, hogsanity will even have some good points every once in awhile. Keep coming back man, we need more rational optimist bball fans on here.

Wow, certainly an idiot. I can see someone picking KY, FL, and even A&M.. But AL, MO, VAN, and AUB finishing above us? And no SC?? We finished 3rd last year and return lots of scoring and experience as well as a top 25 class.

I do think the SEC gets 6 or 7 in this year though, so not saying those other teams won't make it. But not to put us in the top 6 is idiotic.

Seems like he thinks the middle of the SEC is going to be pretty muddled up. Saying the league gets 6 in, and then having 3 SEC teams in the 1st 4 out tells me that after uk and uf it is going to be a free for all among the next 7 or teams.

Before the FBI consumed the off-season news cycle of college basketball, one of the big stories was that the NCAA selection committee has redefined the categories that define the quality of a win or loss. The categories are still based on the RPI, as they always have, but now there is a game location element as well.